Competition between glucose and lactate as oxidative energy substrates in both neurons and astrocytes: a comparative NMR study
Abstract
Competition between glucose and lactate as oxidative energy substrates was investigated in both primary cultures of astrocytes and neurons using physiological concentrations (1.1 mm for each). Glucose metabolism was distinguished from lactate metabolism by using alternatively labelled substrates in the medium ([1-13C]glucose + lactate or glucose + [3-13C]lactate). After 4 h of incubation, 1H and 13C-NMR spectra were realized on perchloric acid extracts of both cells and culture media. For astrocytic cultures, spectra showed that amino acids (glutamine and alanine) were more labelled in the glucose-labelled condition, indicating that glucose is a better substrate to support oxidative metabolism in these cells. The opposite was observed on spectra from neuronal cultures, glutamate being much more labelled in the lactate-labelled condition, confirming that neurons consume lactate preferentially as an oxidative energy substrate. Analysis of glutamine and glutamate peaks (singlets or multiplets) also suggests that astrocytes have a less active oxidative metabolism than neurons. In contrast, they exhibit a stronger glycolytic metabolism than neurons as indicated by their high lactate production yield. Using a mathematical model, we have estimated the relative contribution of exogenous glucose and lactate to neuronal oxidative metabolism. Under the aforementioned conditions, it represents 25% for glucose and 75% for lactate. Altogether, these results obtained on separate astrocytic and neuronal cultures support the idea that lactate, predominantly produced by astrocytes, is used as a supplementary fuel by neurons in vivo already under resting physiological conditions.
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The Bouzier-Sore et al. (2006) study was done with unstimulated neurons and did not test whether preferential use of lactate was enhanced by activation.
“Importantly, this study was done with unstimulated neurons and did not test whether the preferential use of lactate was enhanced by activation as proposed (Bouzier-Sore et al., 2006).”
From Fueling thought: Management of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation in neuronal metabolism (2018) · cites this paper as Bouzier-Sore et al., 2006
Using unstimulated cultured neurons, resting neurons preferentially consume lactate over glucose.
“Using unstimulated cultured neurons, Bouzier-Sore et al. (2006) reported that resting neurons preferentially consume lactate over glucose.”
From Fueling thought: Management of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation in neuronal metabolism (2018) · cites this paper as Bouzier-Sore et al., 2006
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“Using unstimulated cultured neurons, Bouzier-Sore et al. (2006) reported that resting neurons preferentially consume lactate over glucose.”
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- Authors
- Bouzier‐Sore, A., Voisin, P., Bouchaud, V., Bezancon, E., Franconi, J., & Pellerin, L.
- Affiliations
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Bouzier‐Sore, Anne‐Karine
- Venue
- European Journal of Neuroscience
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2006-09
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1687-1694
- ISSN
- 0953-816X (ISSN-L)
- 1460-9568
- OpenAlex
- W2152068171
- Cited by
- 265
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 2.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- IRIS (submittedVersion)
- SERVAL (Université de Lausanne) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
- Keywords
- glucose, lactate, oxidative metabolism, astrocytes, neurons, substrate competition, 13C labeling, glutamine, glutamate, amino acid metabolism, glycolysis, lactate shuttle, brain energy metabolism
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animals, Newborn, Astrocytes, Brain, Carbon Isotopes, Cells, Cultured, Glucose, Neurons, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Lactic Acid, Carbohydrate Metabolism, Rats
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